BANGUED, Abra, Aug. 19 (PIA) — The Abra River and the Cagayan River are included in the proposed amendments of the provisions of the Fisheries Administrative Order of the Department of Agriculture in the protection and conservation of the ’ludong’, an indigenous fresh water fish.

The ‘ludong’ (scientific name cestraeus plicatilis) is the subject of the Fisheries Administrative Order (FAO) No. 31 Series of 1952 for its protection and conservation in Northern Luzon.

The close season for the catching of ludong is on the months of October and November because this is the period when they lay eggs in the estuaries.

The people in the coastal areas are likewise directed to observe the close season for catching ‘ipon’, the larvae of fish believed to be that of ludong and other fresh water fish that lay their eggs in the estuaries.
Estuaries are downstream of the rivers where they meet with the salt waters (the sea or the ocean).

The rivers of Abra and Cagayan were not included in the said FAO but cognizant of the fact that the two rivers are habitats to the precious and endangered ludong, amendments to the provisions of FAO31 were pushed for a more comprehensive protection and conservation program of ludong.

In his report to the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the Save the Abra River (STAR) composed of stakeholders from Regions 1 and the Cordilleras during the 8th consultative meeting held in Bangued last week, Dr. Honorio Yamoyam, focal person for the STAR Project, reported that the proposed amended FAO is already submitted to the concerned authorities for their signature.

Yamoyam said the proposed FAO will be signed by Atty. Asis G. Perez, Director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); Undersecretary Salvador S. Salacup for Fisheries, Department of Agriculture; and Secretary Proceso J. Alcala of the DA.

Meanwhile, the billboards on the advocacy to save the ludong will be installed in strategic areas in Abra such as the Junction in Pidigan, the Bangued Central Market, Junction in Talogtog, Dolores, and in the Junction in Madalipay and Salnec in Bucay. (JDP/MTBB-PIA CAR, Abra)http://news.pia.gov.ph/index.php?article=111376621457

THIS IS A COMMENT ON MS. MARITESS B. BENAS ‘ ARTICLE ON AUGUST 19, 2013 REGARDING THE PROTECTION AND CONCERVATION OFTHE FISH “LUDONG”, scientific name Ceastreus Plicatilis.

I’M AN ARDENT FOLLOWER OF THE PROJECT RELATED TO THE FISH.

I DISAGREE AS TO THE CLAIMED THAT THE LARVAE IPON IS RELATED TO THE FISH LUDONG.

iN MY HONEST OPINION, BOTH BELONG TO DIFFERENT FISH SPECEI. ONE WAY OF DETERMINING THE DIFFERENCE IS DOING THE DNA Differential-CHARTING. I BELIEVE THAT LUDONG BELONGS TO THE ‘PACIFIC SHAD’ SIMILAR TO THE ‘[ATLANTIC SHAD THAT ABOUNDS THE SEA SHORES OF THE ATLANTIC SEA-BOARD FROM NOVA SCOTA, CANADA TO FLORIDA USA.

So Dr. Leo they are indeed Anadromous, just like the salmon in alaska they spawn upstream. This is also what I read from the newspaper as spoken by Senator J. Ponce Enrile that Ludong spawn upstream. Nang Tess, research some more, before letting go the news, so that we will not be mis-informed. Mis-information is only good for politician, not this good news you disseminate about ludong as this will help in the conservation of such species.

Strict implementation on the observation of ‘close season for the catching of Ludong and ipon on the months of october n November must be supported at all cost. Uray ania nga klase ti pagbalinan ti ipon no makatulong ti panagadu ti lames ti saan ngapannakaala dagitoy t dua nga bulan dakkel a banag dayta ti pannaisubli ti panagadu ti lames. No adu ti lames, nalaka ti magatang, ken sumalum-at ti tao ta maysa nga kangrunaan nga pagtaudan ti protina dayta. We must be vigilant to see to it that the close season for fishing must be observed.